Rochester, NH- There are many businesses within the community who are quietly engaging with, and generously supporting, local nonprofit organizations. Laars Heating Systems in Rochester is one of those businesses who really stands out as a partner, supporter, and friend to Cornerstone VNA, a local nonprofit home health and hospice care provider.

Every year, Cornerstone VNA awards the Cornerstone Award to a local business, community member, volunteer, or staff member to recognize their dedication and commitment to advancing the mission of Cornerstone VNA. This year, the Cornerstone Award was awarded to Laars Heating Systems during a special donor appreciation event held at Cornerstone VNA on June 7th. Mark Farrell, Director of Manufacturing Operations at Laars, who was unable to attend the event in person, proudly accepted the award virtually. Mark shared, “You’re near and dear to Laars Heating Systems hearts. All of our employees know of Cornerstone VNA and have used many of your services, including myself and my family members. It’s a joy to work with an organization like Cornerstone VNA. We look forward to continuing our relationship and growing it even further. Thank you for this, it is truly appreciated very much by Laars.”

According to Julie Reynolds, President/CEO of Cornerstone VNA, “Laars first joined our donor family in 2016 when they became a sponsor of our annual dinner and silent auction event. Every year since, they have sponsored our fundraising events and have been present at many community and donor events.”

In addition to participating in and supporting events, Laars has been partnering with Cornerstone VNA to coordinate wellness clinics for their employees such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose screenings, as well as flu clinics. Erika Lee, Advancement Director at Cornerstone VNA adds, “We are grateful for their support, as well as their efforts to partner with us to support the health and wellness of their employees.” Lee continues, “We truly value this relationship we have developed. Laars is a shining example of a business making a difference in their local community, and we are honored to give them this special award.”

About Cornerstone VNA:

Cornerstone VNA is a nonprofit home health and hospice care provider, currently serving Rockingham, Strafford, Belknap and Carroll Counties in New Hampshire and York County in Maine. The team at Cornerstone VNA provides award-winning care and support through five distinct programs: Home Care, Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Life Care-Private Duty and Community Care. For 109 years, Cornerstone VNA has been committed to bringing services to people of all ages so that families can stay together at home, even when facing the challenges of aging, surgical recovery, chronic or life-threatening illnesses or end-of-life care. To learn more about Cornerstone VNA, visit www.cornerstonevna.org or call 800-691-1133.

For Immediate Release

For more information contact:

Cornerstone VNA

Erika Lee, Director of Advancement

Phone: 603-332-1133 x1203

Email: elee@cornerstonevna.org

Funding will support construction of new facility in Dover 

DOVER, NH- Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation, more commonly known as COAST, was awarded $400,000 in tax credits as part of the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority’s (CDFA) recent funding cycle. COAST was one of just 19 organizations to receive a portion of the $5 million in funding available through the very competitive Tax Credit Program.

Grants made to organizations are in the form of tax equity. New Hampshire businesses can support the selected projects by purchasing the tax credits from the recipient organizations, resulting in the nonprofit receiving a donation and the company receiving a 75 percent New Hampshire state tax credit against that contribution. The credit can be applied against the Business Profits Tax, Business Enterprise Tax, or Insurance Premium. 

CDFA funds support initiatives that advance local community economic development goals, capacity building for the New Hampshire nonprofit sector, and support for economic development across the state. The NH CDFA Tax Credit Program is unique and not used by any other state to support the nonprofit sector in this way.

COAST is celebrating its 40^th anniversary of providing public transportation to the Seacoast region. In the last 15 years in particular, COAST has experienced its most significant growth. In order to better meet its current operational needs, be responsive to future demand and reduce its environmental impact, COAST plans to build a new facility on its current property in Dover. The project, which will be funded through a combination of funding from federal, state (including the CDFA tax credits), local and private sources, is an investment in both the regional economy and in climate action. 

“We are honored to be among the organizations receiving CDFA funding this year. Tax credits are a key part of the funding strategy for building a new facility to support the administration, operations, and maintenance of COAST’s public transportation services on the Seacoast,” said Rad Nichols, Executive Director of COAST. “The project supports increased access to reliable public transportation, an essential service for local residents and economic driver in the region.”

More information about COAST’s plans for their new facility can be found at www.coastbus.org.  

About COAST 

Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to champion and provide customer-focused public transportation with a commitment to excellence in safety and service. COAST is funded primarily by federal and local government support. COAST is governed by a board of directors representing the communities served, two regional planning commissions, and many local and state agencies. For more information, visit www.coastbus.org.  

Rochester, NH- Cornerstone VNA, a local nonprofit home health and hospice care provider, has named Kathryn Howard as their Licensed Nursing Assistant of the Year. Howard, who joined Cornerstone VNA in February 2021, is known for her high standard of performance and high-quality care. She performs her job exceptionally, cares for patients with respect and dignity, and is an asset to Cornerstone VNA and her local community.

According to Stacey Genest, RN, MSN, Home Care Team Manager, “Kathryn has a unique skill set and utilizes it to create therapeutic connections, making her an exceptional LNA.” Genest continues, “Kathryn is always excited to learn new skills, she is proficient in assisting with installing and removing telehealth equipment in the patient’s home, providing simple wound care, and blood checks for patients on Coumadin, a blood-thinning medication. These additional skills bring value to her LNA role within the agency.”

Kathryn goes above and beyond and ensures patients are provided the best quality care with a positive experience. She has high ethical standards and expertise in home care, hospice, and acute care that enables her to be an excellent mentor to new staff. She is a great resource for her peers and a role model within Cornerstone VNA. She shows concern for the well-being of others and is always looking for solutions to problems.

Genest adds, “Quality patient care is Kathryn’s mission, and it is evident that healthcare is her passion. She enjoys serving others and expresses her appreciation to others for their efforts.”

Licensed Nursing Assistants, like Kathryn Howard, provide basic patient care, assist with nursing procedures, and often include helping with “activities of daily living,” including personal hygiene, meal preparation, and assistance with self-administration of medicine. For seniors and adults with disabilities, LNAs are often the unsung heroes who provide the care needed to help individuals age in place in their homes.

About Cornerstone VNA:

Cornerstone VNA is a nonprofit home health and hospice care provider, currently serving Rockingham, Strafford, Belknap and Carroll Counties in New Hampshire and York County in Maine. The team at Cornerstone VNA provides award-winning care and support through five distinct programs: Home Care, Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Life Care-Private Duty and Community Care. For 109 years, Cornerstone VNA has been committed to bringing services to people of all ages so that families can stay together at home, even when facing the challenges of aging, surgical recovery, chronic or life-threatening illnesses or end-of-life care. To learn more about Cornerstone VNA, visit www.cornerstonevna.org or call 800-691-1133.

For more information contact:

Cornerstone VNA

Erika Lee, Director of Advancement

Phone: 603-332-1133 x1203

Email: elee@cornerstonevna.org

Rollinsford, NH- In 1852, abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass delivered one of his most famous speeches, “What to the slave is your Fourth of July,” a blistering indictment of an American idealism that ignored and accepted the inhuman treatment of enslaved African Americans. In collaboration with the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, a community reading of this historic protest speech will take place at noon on Friday, July 1 at the Colonel Paul Wentworth House in Rollinsford, NH.

The public is encouraged to mark the start of the Fourth of July weekend in a meaningful way by participating in this event, which takes roughly one hour and is one of several community readings taking place across the Granite State on the same day.

To volunteer to read a section of the speech, or to request additional information, send an email to paulwentworthhouse@gmail.com.

The circa 1701 Wentworth House is located on Water Street in Rollinsford and is maintained by the nonprofit Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH).

Rollinsford, NH- The summer season of living history events at Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House will start off with a bang on June 11 with “Matchlocks to Flintlocks,” featuring colonial-era musket drills and firings.

Historical re-enactors in period attire will conduct drills and firings of muskets ranging from early 1600s matchlocks through the flintlocks of the American Revolution, along with other demonstrations of military equipment and camp life.  Hours for the event are from 10 am to 4 pm.

Guided tours of the circa 1701 Wentworth House will also be available from 1 to 4 pm. The house tour includes “Wheels of Industry: New England Spinning Wheels,” a new exhibit of early spinning wheels, along with an additional display of historic sewing tools and accessories. Admission is $5 for adults; free for children and ARCH members.

The Wentworth House is located on Water Street in Rollinsford, NH and is maintained by the nonprofit Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH).  For more information about this and other events at the Wentworth House, consult the ARCH website at www.paulwentworthhouse.org.

Contact:  Julia Roberts

Email: julialroberts@comcast.net

Phone: 603-749-1966

Rochester, NH – What began as a casual conversation between two non-profit leaders several years ago culminated last Wednesday night with the dedication of the HRCU Main Street Stage at the Rochester Performance & Arts Center. HRCU made an additional $10,000 donation to help fund the many youth programs offered by RPAC. Board members and employees from both organizations, along with other community members, marked the occasion with a special event that included Rochester City Mayor Paul Callaghan as a guest speaker.

Starting back in 2015, HRCU President & CEO Brian Hughes and Rochester Opera House Executive Director Anthony Ejarque started talking about what they could do to help “bring back” the downtown. Their respective organizations both shared the same goal of revitalizing and strengthening the Rochester community. The Opera House wanted to expand its youth programming and was looking for additional performance and rehearsal space. HRCU was in possession of a building downtown that was sitting vacant. A partnership was formed that would see the empty storefront of 32 North Main Street transformed into the beautiful space that is now the Rochester Performance & Arts Center.

Hughes began his remarks thanking both Boards for their support of this community-minded partnership and expressed “it’s great to see that families are coming back to the downtown. This donation is to help RPAC continue to provide theater camps, music lessons, scholarships and recording opportunities to our local youth”.

Ejarque agreed with his sentiments echoing “downtown is now a hub of activity. We at the Opera House are very thankful for the support of HRCU. They helped us bring this new space back to life and offer the youth programming that is so vital to our community”.

President of the Board of Directors for the Rochester Opera House John McKenna said, “We certainly couldn’t have done this alone. Thank you to the City of Rochester and to HRCU for recognizing the impact of what we do and providing your continued support”.

Rochester City Mayor Paul Callaghan responded, saying “former Mayor Harvey Bernier recognized that the arts are a catalyst for economic revitalization and growth, and I want to congratulate these two organizations on their unique relationship. If the Opera House can be restored and the arts can be expanded, then people start to think that maybe anything is possible”.

The Rochester Opera House is a not-for-profit organization that presents an annual performance season of shows for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Their mission is to educate, engage, empower, challenge, and inspire a community of all ages by presenting extraordinary and culturally diverse theatre, performance art, music, dance, and film on the city’s foremost performing arts stage. http://www.rochesteroperahouse.com/

HRCU is a state-chartered and federally insured community credit union that has been serving the New Hampshire community since its inception in 1962. With several locations throughout the seacoast, HRCU prides itself on helping its members achieve their financial goals through convenient, up-to-date services and a compassionate, personalized approach. https://www.hrcu.org/

Rochester, NH – Cornerstone VNA, a local nonprofit home health and hospice care provider, is pleased to announce that Ann Vennard, Assistant Director of Advancement, was recognized as the 2022 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Manager of the Year during the annual Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism on May 10^th.

Participants of this 3-day virtual conference, which was attended by nearly 300 individuals from New Hampshire and across the country, received a warm welcome from Governor John Sununu, who also announced the Outstanding Volunteer Manager of the Year. “The work done by Ann exemplifies the very best of NH – going out of one’s way to care for others and provide a helping hand to those in our communities,” said Governor Sununu. “I could not be more proud to present Ann with [this award].”

Gretchen Stallings, Executive Director of Volunteer NH adds, “Ann’s dedication to the volunteers she supports is truly admirable. Volunteers are the backbone of so many wonderful organizations, including Cornerstone VNA, and they all deserve the special care that Ann pours into her program every day.”

Ann has been a volunteer manager at Cornerstone VNA for the past 6 years and has worked to build a comprehensive volunteer program that engages a variety of community members, from youth to older adults, as well as pet companion volunteers. According to Erika Lee, Director of Advancement at Cornerstone VNA, “Ann has done a tremendous job growing our volunteer program opportunities and making sure our volunteers have a successful and meaningful experience. I was proud to nominate her for this award and thrilled that she was honored as this year’s award recipient.”

Cornerstone VNA's vibrant volunteer team is comprised of Companions, NH Senior Companions, Balance Coaches, Hospice, Music, Office, Pet Peace of Mind and Caregiver Café Facilitator volunteers. To learn more about volunteering at Cornerstone VNA, call 800-691-1133 x1109 or visit cornerstonevna.org/volunteer

Cornerstone VNA currently serves Rockingham, Strafford, Belknap and Carroll Counties in New Hampshire and York County in Maine. The team at Cornerstone VNA provides award-winning care and support through five distinct programs: Home Care, Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Life Care-Private Duty, and Community Care. For 109 years, Cornerstone VNA has been committed to bringing services to people of all ages so that families can stay together at home, even when facing the challenges of aging, surgical recovery, chronic or life-threatening illnesses or end-of-life care. To learn more about Cornerstone VNA, visit www.cornerstonevna.org or call 800-691-1133.

Berwick, ME- The Berwick Department of Parks and Recreation announced today that it is launching Building Bridges, a youth mentoring program that is designed to reduce and prevent opioid misuse among youth in Berwick through evidence-based mentoring practices. The program is supported by the National Recreation and Park Association with funding through the Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative within the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Program, U.S. Department of Justice.

“Data shows that youth in Berwick and MSAD60 are experiencing higher than average rates of substance misuse, suicidal ideation and depression,” explains Angela O’Connor, Director of Berwick Parks and Recreation. “Mentors can help kids feel valued and understood, expose them to new experiences and empower them to make good decisions. We want to give more kids in our community access to supportive adults who can help them pursue their interests and use their talents to contribute to our community.” Young people with mentors are 46% less likely than peers to start using drugs and 55% more likely than peers to enroll in college. Research shows that positive relationships with supportive adults help youth develop the assets, such as honesty and motivation, that lead to better life outcomes. The more assets individuals have the less likely they are to engage in risky behaviors. (Search Institute, 2005).

Berwick Parks and Recreation has partnered with Pinetree Institute of Eliot, ME and Portsmouth, NH to recruit, train and support both the mentors and program participants in the Building Bridges program. “We are excited to be involved in this program because it is such a great example of a community taking action to build a strong web of relationships around kids,” stated Patrice Baker, Director of Prevention Programs at Pinetree Institute. “We know that this is what promotes resilience and helps kids to thrive. The opportunity to spend time one-on-one with a young person—playing, talking and having adventures together also benefits the adult mentors in so many ways.”

Building Bridges Mentoring Program envisions a community in which every young person has a positive role model and supportive adult who believes in them, empowers them to shape their own lives, and guides them to contribute purposefully to the world around them. Students attending the Knowlton School in Berwick are eligible to become mentees and parents/caregivers can contact the school or the Parks and Recreation Department (aoconnor@berwickmaine.org) to sign up. Adults over the age of 18 who want to learn more or apply to become a mentor can email aoconnor@berwickmaine.org or call (207) 698-1101 ext. 117.

DOVER, NH– Wentworth-Douglass Hospital is hosting a Career Event on May 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Wentworth-Douglass Professional Center at 10 Members Way in Dover.

At this event, Wentworth-Douglass is focusing on hiring: registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical assistants, patient service representatives, patients access representatives, radiologic technologists, and lab assistants. Wentworth-Douglass’ directors, managers and staff will be on hand to speak with candidates, give tours, and interview.

Interested candidates will also meet with a talent partner from Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and/or Mass General Brigham. Although not required, the Human Resources team recommends that candidates bring their resume with them and review the open positions at wdhospital.org/careers in advance.

About Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (wdhospital.org) is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit charitable health care organization located in Dover, New Hampshire with a 115-year history of compassionate care and innovation. A member of the Mass General Brigham system, Wentworth-Douglass is strategically located in the heart of the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine, which it has served since 1906. The organization is a family of more than 3,500 employees, including more than 400 physicians and advanced practice providers, dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of the region’s residents and visitors. The organization includes a 178-bed hospital, more than 30 primary and specialty provider practices and clinic sites, multiple express and prompt care facilities, an ambulatory surgery center, several medical office buildings, The Works Family Health and Fitness Center, and the Wentworth-Douglass Foundation.